We all take smells for granted. But after listening to WHAT THE NOSE KNOWS, listeners will learn more about aromas—from farts to fragrances and everything in between—than they ever imagined. Gilbert’s journey through the world of smells benefits from narrator Jeff Woodman's pleasure as he explains scents and every other variation on the book's olfactory themes. Woodman sounds childlike with the joy of discovery as he explains how and why men and women perceive smells differently, and many other fascinating details. After hearing this production, listeners will never view the person sweating next to them at the gym in the quite the same way.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2009
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This one-volume history of Earth is a fascinating trip made that much better by the narrator’s effective delivery.
This work is like a one-semester course in geology, and it’s easy to imagine narrator David Linski standing in front of a class delivering the lectures. The audiobook is aimed at lay listeners; the science isn’t dumbed down but no background in Earth science is required. Linski’s delivery is solid, and he effectively adjusts his pace to fit the material and keep listeners engaged. He handles technical terms with ease. Author Woodward takes listeners from the formation of the universe to Earth as we know it today.
This one-volume history of Earth is a fascinating trip made that much better by the narrator’s effective delivery.Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228699564
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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